Councilor pushes for Talamban-Bacayan bridge

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City Councilor Alvin Arcilla seeks millions of pesos from Congress for projects in barangay Talamban, Cebu City.

Arcilla is the former captain of Talamban before he ran as a City Councilor.

In a resolution passed in the council, Arcilla sought the assistance of Representative Rachel “Cutie” del Mar and Representative Tomas Osmeña to secure congressional funds for the construction of a 100-meter bridge from Talamban to Bacayan and the construction of a concrete pavement with drainage for the proposed widening of the Talamban road.

According to the Budgetary Estimate prepared by the Department of Engineering and Public Works, the 100-meter bridge with a width of 20 meters will cost P67.5 million. The bridge shall connect Talamban to Bacayan. It has been the clamor of residents of Talamban, Bacayan and Pit-os.

Its width will be consistent to the width of the Talamban road if the proposed widening pushes through.

The proposed Talamban Road widening will be from the Talamban Sports Complex to sitio Centro of barangay Pit-os. The whole stretch of road widening project extends 3,200 meters with a width of 20 meters.

The widened road, if materialized, will need concrete pavement, drainage and sidewalk and curb and gutter.

The construction of the concrete pavement including the drainage and sidewalk will cost about P252.9 million according to the estimate made by DEPW last year.

“In consideration of the City’s financial constraint, it would be sensible to seek assistance for funding from the national government thru the city’s dynamic and munificent representatives in the lower house,” Arcilla said.

The widening of Talamban-Pit-os road will need about P142.8 million for acquisition of lots and existing improvements.

Arcilla is also requesting the Cebu City Budget Office to include the mount in the annual budget next year.

The amount shall be used as just compensation to over 200 lot owners that will be affected.

The proposed widening is seen to ease the traffic in Pit-os and Talamban. —(FREEMAN)